Ditch check



June 5, 1934. w L COX 1,961,817

DITCH CHECK Original Filed Oct. 1, 1929 Inventor Atforny Patented June 5, 1934 DITCH CHECK William L. Cox, Chillicothe, M0.

Application October 1, 1929, Serial No. 396,454 Renewed September 17, 1932 14 Claims.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in the art known as earth control, and the same has a more particular reference to a ditch check or slope retainer for ditches for regulating and controlling the shape of the cross-section of the ditch and, iurther, to prevent back slopes and the erosion of ground, the washing out of fence posts, and the like. Obviously, the check adaptable to various other uses in this connection, and the following specification sets forth the invention in detail.

During the course of this specification, various other objects and advantages of the invention will readily become apparent.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 represents a top plan view of the check installed in a ditch.

Figure 2 represents a side elevation of the check installed in a ditch.

Figure 3 represents a vertical sectional view of the check taken approximately on the line 3-3, Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective View of one of the sections or walls of the check; and

Figure 5 represents a cross sectional view of one of the wall-braces of the check.

Referring now more in detail and by reference characters to the drawing, which illustrates a practical embodiment of my invention,thecheck includes a pair of plates 5 preferably having the shape or contour best shown in Figure 4 for cooperable arrangement in the ditch for defining or regulating the desired cross-section thereof. Each of the plates 5 consists of an'elongated sheet of metal for edgewise marginal embedment in the bed and sidc slopes or walls of the ditch, as will presently appear. For facilitating the insertion of the plates 5 in the ground, portions of the respective lower margins thereof are removed, as by bevelling each plate 5, as at 6, from an intermediate point on its lower margin to the outer upper corner or point 7, which latter is situated on a line with the upper marginal portion of the plate.

At its upper marginal portion, each sheet 5 is bent laterally to form or provide a triangularly shaped flange 9, which gradually recedes in width from the inner upper corner of the sheet to the outer upper corner 7 thereof, in such manner that, when the plate or wall 5 is disposed crosswise in the ditch, the width of the flange 9 will be proportionately to the projection of the plate 5 over the channel of the ditch, as best seen in Figures 1 and 4. The plates 5, when in use, are disposed in the ditch channel with the lower marginal portion 6 thereof inserted or embedded in the ground, the plates 5 at their inner marginal portions being preferably engaged in sidewise overlapping relation projectingly over the bed of the ditch.

To maintain the so disposed sections or plates 5 against displacement in the ditch channel, braces to are preferably provided, each of which is constructed of sheet metal and'is substantially of U-shape in cross-section, the down-stream flange or leg 13 thereof being returned or off-set upon the body portion or web 11 of the brace, thereby providing 'a reinforcing lip 12 along the down-stream margin of the brace for strengthening the structure.

The legs or flanges 13 of the brace 10 are transversely kerfed, as at 14, at points oppositely spaced from its longitudinal center, so that the brace may be adjustably bent in a vertical plane to meet the requirements of a particular installation, the flanges or legs 13 being disposed in the ground in the manner clearly shown in Figure 2 to withstand hydrostatic pressure against the walls 5.

In Figure 2, a pair of braces 10 is shown in use, in conjunction with two lapped sections 5, and obviously any suitable number of the same may be employed, depending upon the size of the sections 5. The sections 5 are assembled together with their enlarged ends in overlapping engagement, while their pointed ends pierce the banks of the ditch in the manner clearly shown.

By disposing the braces 10 on the down-stream side of the sections 5, and engaging the flanges 13--l3 of these braces into the banks of the ditch, the sections 5 will be stably maintained in position, and the liability of the same being washed away by a current of water will be negligible. Manifestly the sections or wall 5 are plate-like members, and, while not here specifically shown, the Ushaped members or braces 10 may be emedded crosswise of the ditch for also defining or controlling the cross-section thereof, the central part of the brace fitting in the ditch-bed and the side portions thereof being adjustable, as I have described, in a vertical plane for controlling or regulating the inclination of the ditch-slopes.

While the foregoing description sets forth the invention in detail, it is to be understood that this is not by way of limitation, as various changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In an erosion preventing device, an elongated member of inverted U hape in cross section from end to end the pendent portions of which are embedded in the ground crosswise of the ditch; the said member being of sheet metal with coincident kerfs in its pendent portions and with parts at opposite sides of the kerfs at an angle to each other to conform to ground portions at an angle .to each other.

2. In an erosion preventing device, an elongated member of inverted U-shape in cross section from end to end the pendent portions of which are embedded in the ground crosswise of the ditch, in combination with upright platelike members deeper than the first named member and marginally embedded in the ground and arranged in parallelism with and in close proximity to the upstream pendent portion of the first named member and braced thereby.

3. In an erosion preventing device, a member of inverted U-shape in cross section the pendent portions of which are embedded in the ground; the said member being of sheet metal with coincident kerfs in its pendent portions and with parts at opposite sides of the kerfs at an angle to each other to conform to ground portions at an angle to each other, in combination with platelike members longitudinally at angles to each other and deeper than the first named member in the ground and arranged in lapped relation to each other and in close proximity to the pendent portions of the first named member and braced thereby.

4. In an erosion preventing device, a member of inverted U-shape in cross section the pendent portions of which are embedded in the ground; the said member being of sheet metal with coincident kerfs in its pendent portions and with parts at opposite sides of the kerfs at an angle to each other to conform to ground portions at an angle to each other, in combination with platelike members longitudinally at angles to each other and deeper than the first named member embedded in the ground and arranged in lapped relation to each other and to the first named member, said plate-like members having tapered outer portions and also having right angle top flanges one of which bears at its inner end on the other.

5. In an erosion preventing device, plate-like members arranged in lapped relation and embedded in the ground in combination with a member of inverted U-shaped in cross section, arranged alongside the plate-like members and having pendent portions embedded in the ground; the said member being of sheet metal with coincident kerfs in its pendent portions and with parts at opposite sides of the kerfs at an angle to each other to conform to ground portions at an angle to each other, and the said inverted U-shaped member having an offset bight portion extending throughout its length and arranged at its side remote from the plate members.

6. In a ditch check, a sheet-metal member for disposition in and crosswise of the ditch, said member being substantially of U-shape in section from end to end and including a bight-portion and marginal flanges, the latter extending approximately in parallel relation substantially right-angularly from the bight-portion, said member having a length to extend continuously from bank to bank, and its flanges being presented downwardly for edgewise embedment in and engagement with the bed, of the ditch.

'7. In a ditch-check, a sheet-metal member substantially of U-shape in section from end to end and including a bight-portion and marginal flanges, the latter extending approximately in parallel relation substantially right-angularly from the bight-portion, said member intermediate its ends being adjustably bendable in a vertical plane for substantially defining the cross-section of the ditch, said member having a length to extend crosswise of the ditch and angularly up the embankment slopes thereof and the flanges of said member being presented downwardly for marginal embedment in and engagement with the bed and embankment slopes of the ditch.

8. A ditch-check including a member of substantially U-shape in section from end to end for inverted disposition in, and having a length to extend crosswise of the bed and up the embankment slopes of, the ditch, the legs of said memher being presented downwardly for edgewise embedment in the ground and the member being provided in its legs at points oppositely spaced from its longitudinal center with pairs of registering transverse kerfs for bendable adjustment or" said member in a vertical plane for substantially defining the cross-section of the ditch.

9. A ditch-check including a member of substantially U-shape in section from end to end for inverted disposition in and crosswise or" the ditch, the down-stream leg of the member being ofl'set inwardly upon and relatively to the bight of the member in the formation or" a re-enforcing lip.

10. In a ditch-check, an elongated plate-like member for upright embedment at its lower margin in and crosswise of the ditch, said member having a lateral re-enforcing flange extending along its upper margin triangular in shape and plan, said flange gradually receding in width from the inner upper corner of the member towards the upper outer corner thereof.

11. In a ditch-check, an elongated plate-like member for upright embedment at its lower margin in and crosswise of the ditch, said member being along its lewer margin obliquely cut away upwardly towards its outer end and being of greater depth at its inner end than at its outer end for engagement with the bed and embankment slopes of the ditch.

12. In a ditch-check, an elongated plate-like member for upright embedment at its lower margin in and crosswise or" the ditch, said member being obliquely cut away along its lower margin from an intermediate point thereon to the outer upper corner thereof for engagement with the bed and embankment slopes of the ditch.

13. In a ditch-check, a pair of plates embedded marginally for upright disposition in the ditch, said plates separably overlappingly abutting at their inner margins and having a combined length to extend between, and for engagement with, the opposite embankment-slopes of the ditch, each of said plates having a lateral reenforcing flange extending along its upper margin triangular in shape in plan, said flange gradually receding in width from the inner upper corner of the plate toward the upper outer corner thereof, and each of said plates being obliquely cut away along its lower margin and being of greater depth at its overlapped inner margin than at its outer margin.

14. In a ditch-check, a pair of plates embedded marginally for upright disposition in the ditch, said plates separably overlappingly abutting at their inner margins and having a combined length to extend between, and for engagement with, the opposite embankment-slopes of the ditch, in combination with a member of elongated channel iormation from end to end for spanning the ditch, said member having its legs presented downwardly for edgewise embedment in the ditch and one of said legs flatwise abutting said plates for laterally supporting the same.

WILLIAM L. COX. 

